Categories in the annual competition will include the best Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year, which allows the winning shop to title itself ‘best fish and chip shop in the UK’.
The overall national winner will be announced on 26 January 2017 at a ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel.
To reach this first stage, the shops have already been judged by industry experts across a range of criteria, including menu development, sustainable sourcing, customer service, staff training, marketing flair, and how they appeal to new customers.
The next stage of the judging will send mystery shoppers to each of the businesses, whittling the shortlist down to just 20 favourites who will then be in the running for the ultimate regional and national prizes.
Current champions are Simpsons Fish & Chips in Cheltenham.
The competition regions are Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, North East England, North West England, Midlands, Eastern England, London & South East England, Central & Southern England and South West England.
Marcus Coleman, chief executive at Seafish, wished all contenders luck, and said: “The Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award is one of the highest honours a fish and chip business can receive. Many of our past winners and finalists have gone on to reap substantial benefits, including increased shop footfall, turnover and media fame, [and] overseas industry study trips. Receiving this award is the pinnacle of many friers’ careers.”
James and Bonny Ritchie of Simpsons Fish & Chips added: “Winning the 2016 National Fish & Chip Awards was a life changing experience and a moment we’ll treasure forever. It meant so much to us as a family. From the moment we were crowned winners we saw a dramatic increase in business…the award has given us real recognition and respect.”
Awards organiser Seafish was founded in 1981 and seeks to support the UK seafood industry in profitability and sustainability.
Full list of shortlisted shops
Scotland
Cromars Classic Fish & Chips, Fife
Fochabers Fish Bar, Moray
Low’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Aberdeenshire
Forehill Café, Ayrshire
Palombo’s of Balloch, West Dunbartonshire
The Plaice To Be, Ayrshire
Wales
Andrews Fish Bar, Welshpool
Hennighan’s Top Shop, Powys
Simply Fish & Chips, Denbigh, Denbighshire)
Simply Fish & Chips, Rhyl, Denbighshire)
Hikary’s Fish Bar, Port Talbot
Hooked @ 31, Pembrokeshire
Penaluna’s Famous Fish & Chips, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Northern Ireland
Fish City, County Antrim
Raffos, County Antrim
Spinnaker, County Down
Superbites, County Armagh
The Dolphin Takeaway, County Tyrone
The Friary, County Antrim
The Frying Squad, County Down
North East England
Fish and Chips At 149, County Durham
Pantrini’s Fish and Chips, Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
Pantrini’s Fish and Chips, Whitley Lodge, Whitely Bay, Tyne and Wear
Miller’s Fish and Chips, North Yorkshire
Papa’s, Hull
Whitby’s Restaurant & Takeaway, South Yorkshire
Whiteheads Fish & Chips, East Yorkshire
North West England
Hodgson’s Chippy, Lancashire
Pisces, Lancashire
The Fish and Chip Plaice, Lancashire
Fylde Fish Bar, Merseyside
Papas, Cheshire
The Big Blue, Cheshire
Midlands
Chesters, Derbyshire
Oldswinford Fish & Chips, West Midlands
Seafish Restaurant, Derbyshire
Catchems End, Worcestershire
The Golden Carp Chippy, Worcestershire
Winyates Chipps, Worcestershire
Eastern England
Burton Road Chippy, Lincolnshire
The Cod’s Scallops, Nottinghamshire
The Elite Fish & Chip Company, Lincolnshire
Grosvenor Fish Bar, Norfolk
My Plaice Fish & Chips, Norfolk
Traditional Fish & Chips, Cambridgeshire
London and the South East
Henley’s of Wivenhoe, Essex
Olley’s Fish Experience, London
Poppies Fish & Chips, London SE24
Poppies Fish & Chips, London NW1
Papa’s Barn, Kent
Seafare St. Johns, Surrey
Central and Southern England
Arlesey Fish and Chip Shop, Bedfordshire
Godfrey’s Fish and Chips, Hertfordshire
Ridgeway Fish Bar, Hertfordshire
J Henry’s Fish & Chips, Hampshire
Sonny’s Traditional Fish and Chips, Hampshire
The Codfather, Hampshire
South and West England
Dornan’s Fish & Chips, Devon
Kingfisher Fish and Chips, Plymouth
Krispies, Devon
Ashley’s Fish and Chips, Dorset
Bennett’s on the Waterfront, Dorset
Bishopston Fish Bar, Avon